Temple Founding Member Turns 95

Sylvia Beckman celebrated her 95th birthday in the ballroom named for her at Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach.

Born June 12, 1909, Beckman was among those who founded the synagogue after meeting in area homes for services in 1973.

"We weren't satisfied with that," she said. "We decided we wanted a place of our own."

The group began collecting money and built the temple. Beckman helped obtain the mortgage. At one point, the temple had 2,200 members and a waiting list to join, she said.

"It's still a vital temple," Beckman said. "We've been up and we've been down. The population is changing. Deerfield is constantly changing."

Beckman was born in New York City and lived for 40 years in Mount Vernon, N.Y., where she worked as an accountant for Norcross Greeting Cards. She began work as a secretary while attending New York University but took over as administrator after discovering the previous administrator had been embezzling company funds. The company sold greeting cards in the United States, Canada and Europe, Beckman said.

After 27 years with Norcross, Beckman retired to Deerfield Beach in 1973 where she took up residence in Century Village. One of the reasons she chose Florida was because of a cold winter in which New York received 23 inches of snow.

"I got bored after a couple months and that's when I got to work on Temple Beth Israel," she said.

Beckman has volunteered at the temple since its beginning, she said.

"At that time, everything was handwritten," she said. "But I didn't mind. I enjoyed it."

Goldy Wosk, a member of the temple's board of directors, said Beckman is one of the most dedicated people she has ever met.

"She never took a penny of salary," Wosk said. "And this was before we had computers. Everything was strictly the books. What she couldn't finish, she took home. To this day, she works at temple bingo on Wednesdays. She's an incredible person."

The temple named its ballroom after Beckman in recognition of her volunteer work for the temple. Beckman is one of the few surviving founding members of the temple. Joseph Lovy, the first president of the temple, now lives in Missouri and turned 95 on July Fourth.

In addition to volunteer work, Beckman has donated many things to the temple through the years, Wosk said.

"She's donated so many things," Wosk said. "She brought in the first Torah and a mirrored wall that's just beautiful."

The secret to longevity is staying active, Beckman said.

"I'm living without a single bellyache," she said. "I'm still active. Whatever I can do, I do."

Steve Coate can be reached at scoate@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4500.